Looking the Part: Productivity Challenge Results

Last week, I decided to challenge myself to shower and get fully dressed each morning for a week, hoping to be more productive.  You can read more about that HERE.  How did I do?

Day 1 – Saturday

The Day’s Agenda: My mom and I were taking Nick to his first movie, followed by lunch and some light shopping.  I started on this day because I knew I would be getting up early and doing hair and makeup.

Sunglasses: CATO | Tee: Faded Glory (WalMart), iron-on transfer by me | Tank: Eddie Bauer | Jeans: CATO | Purse: Gadzooks (circa 2003) | Sandals: CATO | Nail polish: Sally Hansen XTreme Wear in Blue Me Away

Productivity: Well, I had a day out planned, so I was away from home all day doing fun things.  I think I did dishes when I got home.  This whole weekend is a blur so I can’t say for sure!  But I definitely felt motivated all day.

Day 2 – Sunday

The Day’s Agenda: It was Independence Day, with plans for swimming and BBQ.  I knew I’d be just getting in my swimsuit, and I had an eye infection, so I did the best I could to be put-together.

Lucky for you, there are no shots in my swimsuit.  Instead, I snapped (in a very off-centered way) my hair to show that I didn’t do my usual sloppy pony.  I incorporated some braids and twists to ensure I kept up the “doing something with myself” thing.

Productivity: I was productive if you count getting some sun, eating a lot, and cleaning up the mess.  I was wiped out by time we got home, but still managed to do a sinkful of dishes.

Day 3 – Monday

The Day’s Agenda: Do some laundry, jewelry making, and blogging. This day ended with a date night, which meant I’d be getting all done up in the afternoon.  However, if I really wanted to stick with the challenge, I’d have to get dressed earlier in the day.

Day – Eyeglasses: Hilary Duff | Tee: Eddie Bauer | Jeans: Converse One Star | Flip Flops: American Eagle

Night – Top: F21 (circa 2007) | Cami: CATO | Jeans: CATO | Wedges: CATO | Vintage purse was my great-grandmother’s

Productivity: During the day, I did a lot of laundry, blog work, and made a couple of bracelets.  I then had a great date with my husband where I accomplished getting a slight beer buzz and consuming a week’s worth of fat and calories.

Day 4: Tuesday

The Day’s Agenda: Grocery shop, do some things in the yard, do laundry, organize living room play area, work out.

Tank: Eddie Bauer | Jeans: Eddie Bauer | Flip Flops: CATO

Productivity: This day went nothing as planned.  It had nothing to do with lack of motivation though and had everything to do with Harper Atticus.  The little guy just wanted to be right ON me every moment (as you can see in the picture).  After grocery shopping in the morning, I came home and chased (and ran from) him until his bedtime.  Literally, all I did around the house was wash dishes and cook.

Day 5: Wednesday

The Day’s Agenda: Usual housework, plus vacuuming, changing sheets, cleaning out fridge.  Aside from housework, work on my other blog, pack some items to ship, get some writing done.

Tunic: CSA men’s XXL sleeveless tee, altered by my mom to make a trapeze dress for me | Leggings: Mossimo (Target) | Flip Flops: American Eagle

Productivity: I got a late start because I napped right after breakfast.  I did manage to vacuum, do some laundry, and that’s about where it ends.  It wasn’t because of lack of productivity.  My kids completely lost their minds in early evening and never quite found them.

Day 6: Thursday

The Day’s Agenda: clean bathroom, post on my other blog, work out.  I woke up intending to do a lot of other things, but I felt a little under the weather, so I decided to mostly focus on basic housework.

Tee: Mossimo | Jeans: CATO | Flip Flops: American Eagle | Ring: my Etsy shop, Shop Houndstooth

Productivity:  I did get some writing done, as well as a few basic things around the house.

Day 7 – Friday

The Day’s Agenda:  All I wanted to do this day was catch up on the housework that I didn’t do the rest of the week.

Tank: Eddie Bauer | Dress: Gadzooks (circa 2006) | Belt: from a maurice’s tunic | Flower pin: ? | Sandals: CATO | Necklace: Peebles

Productivity: Um.  Yeah.  I got nothing.  OH wait!  I did a load of laundry.  Aren’t you proud?

What I Learned

Cuter, more thought-out outfits, blown out hair, or makeup won’t necessarily make me more productive.  Instead, it’s taking a shower and putting on something other than PJs.  More than that, I learned (perhaps more importantly) that I physically feel better when I start the day this way.  Aside from the productivity experiment, I learned a few embarrassing things:

1. I need new clothes.  99% of the time, I’m wearing cuffed or rolled jeans and a tank or tee.  I didn’t just wear this stuff because I wasn’t going anywhere.  That’s what I wear to the grocery store, too.

2. I HAVE to lose weight.  Like, this is ridiculous how fat my thighs and tummy are.  No more excuses.

3. No matter what, I have to get a camera.  This webcam and camera phone thing is out of control.

Now that the challenge is over, where do I go from here?  I will definitely keep up the showering in the morning routine.  I will keep putting on clothes that aren’t boxers(except maybe a day or two a week).  I definitely want to do makeup and hair on weekends when I spend more time with my husband.  I think that’s a start!

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